Three Oaks Legacy Society

Memories are foundation for future

The “Three Oaks” tree at the University of St. Francis dates to 1875 when it was planted by the institution’s founders and sponsors, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. So many remember meeting families, studying or sitting just to reflect under the strong branches. The tree is a symbol of the strength of those who came before and that strength—of Three Oaks and its legacy—is an inspiration for the future.

The University of St. Francis named the Three Oaks Legacy Society for those who remember the institution in their estates or other planned gifts.

To learn more about how you can leave a legacy at the University of St. Francis that will positively affect the lives of future generations of students, visit www.stfrancis.edu or call 815.740-5065.

Strong connection helps future students

Remembering that the then-College of St. Francis helped to make education affordable for her, Cecilia Trizna Vargo, a 1959 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, has chosen to help others with the same dream. Vargo worked as a high school counselor to help inspire students to understand that both high school and college diplomas were within reach and also very necessary for their futures.

Vargo and her late husband, Nandor, established a scholarship to memorialize her father John, who had been a Will County sheriff. The scholarship is offered to assist students who have a parent who is a teacher or in law enforcement and/or who is seeking a degree in education.

A past Alumni Association Board member, Vargo has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater, and has also chosen to remember the University of St. Francis in her will and thus is a member of the Three Oaks Legacy Society.